The writer

Paul is a writer visiting 21st century Italy who, while laying himself open to inspiration from the energies and art of the Florentine past, comes across an historical account of il fachiro and his fables.

He decides to translate it from Italian into English and receives the welcome help of Sofia, who works at a local caffè.

Paul’s initial cultural elation in Florence is darkened by the suffocating crowds of consumer-tourists, a recurring nightmare and the growing suspicion that he is being trapped by the story he is translating.